‘Nightmare’ neighbour with 140 convictions forces terrified couple to barricade themselves in their very own residence
A ‘nightmare’ neighbour with more than 140 criminal convictions has left a couple terrified to leave their own home due to an 18-month-long campaign of harassment.
Christopher and Amy Masterson from Forth in Scotland say they are living in fear of Peter Ferguson, 47, who regularly shouts abuse at them and their visitors.
Footage captured on their doorbell camera shows him calling Ms Masterson a ‘f***** ‘w****’ and ringing their doorbell late at night before running off.
They claim the abuse has got so bad they have even had to barricade themselves inside their own property with luggage and white goods.
Mr Masterson has also started sleeping in the living room for fear the house might be set on fire during the night.
Ferguson was given an ASBO last year for anti-social behaviour but the Mastersons say his behaviour has only got worse after they reported him to police.
The couple have also been fighting to evict him but he has remained in the council property while they wait for the proceedings to be heard in court.
Mr Masterson said: ‘Ferguson started verbally abusing my wife for no reason.
Footage captured on their doorbell camera shows Peter Ferguson calling Amy Masterson a ‘f***** ‘w****’ and ringing their doorbell late at night before running off
Chris and Amy Masterson (pictured) claim they have been harassed by neighbour for more than a year
The couple have used luggage to barricade their door at night for fear of a break-in
‘Then he started abusing our visitors, and it’s continued to escalate ever since.
‘After he threatened to petrol bomb our car, the council took him to court to get an ASBO – which he’s broken many times.
‘He’s rang the doorbell at half past one in the morning, and a few seconds after that, our car windscreen was smashed.’
Mr Masterson, who suffers from ill health following a stroke, says he barricades the front and back doors at night in fear of a break-in attempt.
He has also been sleeping in the living room – in case a fire breaks out at the home.
Ms Masterson, 42, told the BBC: ‘The front door would have ladders, a suitcase, a washing pole thing, and the letterbox taped up, just in case anybody could put something through it.
‘It’s not really good fire regulation, but it was the only way we could feel safe.’
‘Unfortunately, Amy had to get put on antidepressants because of this,’ said Mr Masterson
‘I believe he’s picking on us because I can’t defend myself because of my ill health.
‘Any time Amy leaves the house, I keep an eye on things on the video doorbell.
Ferguson is seen harassing Ms Masterson at their home
Image shows damage to Ms Masterson’s windscreen
‘My mobility is poor, so I can’t look out the window – I keep an eye on the doorbell to see if he’s going to start abusing her or be violent towards her.
‘He’s a ticking time bomb.’
The couple moved to Forth with their two children in 2016 and said it was an idyllic rural village with friendly neighbours until the harassment began in 2024.
In the time since, they have been forced to consider selling the property to get away – but were told a sale would be difficult thanks to Ferguson’s ASBO.
‘It was absolutely brilliant here,’ Mr Masterson said.
‘Neighbours would come and chat with you, we’d clear the paths for elderly neighbours in the winter.
‘Now it’s got to a point where I spoke to my mortgage advisor.
‘He said that it wouldn’t be ideal because we’d need to declare that he has an ASBO to the new buyer, and we’d sell the house at a loss.’
The couple have appeared in court 18 times for various hearings relating to Ferguson’s behaviour, and hope that steps are taken to evict him soon.
Mr Masterson said: ‘We’ve had it quite tough over the last few years, but we’ve stuck together and got on with things.
Ferguson was given an ASBO last year for anti-social behaviour but the Mastersons say his behaviour has only got worse after they reported him to police
‘We don’t think this should be dragged through the courts for so long.
‘It’s affected my wife’s mental health, our daughter’s mental health. I was on the verge of having another stroke. It’s toxic.’
South Lanarkshire Council said it had been actively pursuing legal action and was currently waiting for eviction proceedings to be heard in court.
A spokesperson told the BBC: ‘We have every sympathy with anyone who suffers from anti-social behaviour and we have robust methods in place to deal with this type of behaviour.
‘We have been actively pursuing legal action and have no control over the court timescales or any delays.
‘We are currently waiting for the eviction proceedings being heard at court..’
Paperwork shows Ferguson was given an ASBO in 2024 where he was banned for three years from shouting, swearing or banging doors or playing loud music or TV at his home.
He was also banned from threatening any persons, carrying an offensive weapon or causing fear or alarm or damaging property.
